Tickets will be available ahead of time at the following locations: Rogers City
Branch of the Presque Isle District Library,Great Lakes Lore Museum, the
Historical Museum, and Domaci Gallery.
On the evening of November 18, 1958, the S/S Carl D. Bradley went down in a brutal Lake Michigan storm—but what sets this tragedy apart is that out of 33 lives lost, 23 came from one small northern Michigan town: Rogers City. The harsh numbers reflect the tragedy: 23 widows, 52 children made fatherless. Virtually every one of the 3,000 townsfolk was affected in some way. As one resident tearfully put it, “It’s been fifty years, and some of us still haven’t gotten over it.”
On November 18, 2008, the 50th anniversary of this tragic loss, a community remembers the crew who served on board the Carl D. Bradley. Starting at 5:30 pm in the Rogers City Area High School gymnasium, the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum will conduct the official Carl D. Bradley 50th Anniversary Bell Ringing ceremony commemorating the crew whose lives were lost. A representative from each family member of the crew will be asked to ring the authentic ship’s bell from the Carl D. Bradley. The ship’s bell was recovered in August 2007 by the Inland Sea Corporation (see attached photo) and has not been rung since the ship sank in 1958. This will be the first time that the bell will be rung and will be on display for the public at the 50th anniversary ceremony.
Following the ceremony, the premiere of the feature-length documentary, “November Requiem” will be shown at the Rogers City Theatre at 8:00pm and for four consecutive nights. Public Broadcasting in Michigan will air the documentary starting in late November. Check local PBS stations for dates and times.
THE DOCUMENTARY. “November Requiem” explores how a small northern Michigan community has come to grips with a disaster that even a half-century later remains vivid in the minds of those old enough to remember. The filmmakers have interviewed surviving family members, maritime historians, the professional dive team familiar with the Bradley’s story, and the personal firsthand account from the only remaining survivor of the casualty, deckwatch, Frank Mays. A small archivist team has collected extensive stills, newspaper headlines, even 8mm home movies of the Bradley and her crew.
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50th Anniversary of the SS Carl D. Bradley
Starting on Saturday, November 15 through Sunday, November 23 in partnership with the Presque Isle District Library, the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum, and the Presque Isle
County Historical Museum, have planned week-long events including the maritime art exhibit featuring artists Jim Clary, Bob McGreavy, and Steve Witucki (Rogers City local artist), the Bradley historical exhibit, presentations from Great Lakes authors and featured maritime historians, guided tours of the Calcite quarry (the world’s largest open pit limestone quarry), an authentic “steamboat dinner” and much more.
Tickets for the documentary premiere, “November Requiem”, on Tuesday, November 18th at 8:00 pm are $5.00 per person and can be purchased ahead of time at the Presque Isle District Library, Presque Isle County Historical Museum, Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum, Domaci Gallery, and the Rogers City Theatre or at the door. The following evenings from November 19 through November 22 start at 8:00 pm with a Saturday matinee at 2:00 pm. You can view the Carl D. Bradley 50th anniversary website at www.carldbradley.org with specific information on the weeklong event schedule, historical information regarding Carl D. Bradley, and link to the “November Requiem” documentary trailer.